The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an order on September 2017 to abolish all Kaspersky security software products used in government departments and agencies. The government is suspicious of the company’s ties with the FSB, a Russian intelligence service.

The mandate was issued a week prior to a draft released by the U.S. Senate, which bars government agencies from using the cybersecurity software.

Elaine Duke, the Acting Homeland Security Secretary, gave the U.S. government officials 90 days to remove and replace the Moscow-based software.

The government is speculating suspicious ties between Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence services.

According to Duke, the Russian Government could capitalize on the access provided by Kaspersky to compromise with the federal information systems and jeopardizes the U.S. national security.

“The department is concerned about the ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies,” she mentioned in a statement.

Two months earlier, news portals had reported the involvement of Kaspersky with the Russian government.

Eugene Kaspersky, the Chief Executive, and a senior Kaspersky staff were found outlining a secret cyber security project requested by FSB.

In July, the U.S. Government’s General Services Administration (GSA), removed ‘Kaspersky Lab’ from several government contractors due to security reasons.

According to the GSA, “The U.S. and Russia are using Moscow-based cybersecurity provider as a pawn in a geopolitical game.”

Post allegations, a number of U.S. retailers withdrew Kaspersky’s products from sale.

Kaspersky, downcast with the verdict, plans to abolish the allegations.

As per the officials from Kaspersky, DHS did not provide enough evidences supporting the claim. The claims were based on false allegations and inaccurate assumptions.

Kaspersky has more than 400 million customers globally, but has never succeeded in being a major supplier to the U.S. Government.

Bhawna Kohli is an acclaimed Research Manager - Cross Verticals and author. Bhawna holds a masters with a rich background in international politics, media, and marketing. Popular as a seasoned communicator and writer, she has published several data-oriented articles for both online and print media.